Roller book-shelf



(N o Model.)

. EDWARDS.

' BR BOOK SHELF. No. 439,869. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

WITNESSES .ZNVENTUFI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOB DARWIN EDWARDS, OF XENIA, OHIO.

ROLLER BOOK-SHELF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,869, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed February 21, 1890. Serial No. 341,299. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OB DARWIN EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Xenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Book Shelves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in roller book-shelves, adapted for use in olfices of all kinds or in any place where large books are used.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device to be applied to book shelves or cases in which large books are placed when not in use, to facilitate the insertion or removal of said books from the shelves or cases, and prevent the wear incident thereto.

The especial object of the invention is to provide a roller-support for said shelves or cases adapted to support books of any size, whether laid fiat thereon or placed standing or on edge, the roller-support being so constructed that only that portion on which the book rests shall turn, so that any number of books may be placed side by side on the same shelf or in the same case, and each book be independently supported by the roller-support.

To this end my invention consists in a roller book-shelf having a roller-support of novel construction in which the roller is formed in short independently-moving sections, each provided with a separate and independent support.

My invention-further consists in the various combinations and constructions of parts, hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end section of a book-shelf embodying my invention.' Fig. 2 is a view of the same with the roller-supports removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the roller-supports in detail. Fig. 4: is a detail view in perspective, illustrating he manner of constructing the roller-support and its bearings. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the roller-support in detail.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In forming ashelf or case with myimproved supports the bottom of the case or support ing-shelf A is provided with a series of longitudinal grooves or recesses a, into which the supporting-rollers B are placed, so that the tops of said rollers stand slightly above the upper surface of said shelf A. These rollersupports I make as follows: The base or supporting-frame of the rollers is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal C, having upturned edges Z2 Zr and a series of supporting standards or bearings 12 These supporting bearings or standards b are preferably stamped out from the plate 0 and turned up at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 4. A trough-shaped frame O, having a series of upturned projections from the bottom thereof, is thus formed. In this frame C, between each of the projections 17 I place a small roller 0. Each of these rollers is preferably made of wood and provided with a central opening, through which is passed a bearingrod (1. This bearing-rod d not only passes through all'the rollers, but also through the supporting standards 11 The supportingrollers, as thus formed, I preferably make in sections B and B of a uniform sizesay twenty to thirty inches in length.

The frame 0 and bearing-rod d of each section are preferably extended slightly beyond the last roller 0. hen it is desired to furnish the supporting-rollers to a shelf longer than the length of one section, any number of sections may be used and joined together, as shown in Fig. 3, by placing a roller 0 on the projecting ends of the bearing-rods d of the respective sections.

It will be understood that the roller-supports may be dropped into the grooves aand be ready for use. As the frames 0 are set considerably below the top of the shelf A, no fastening will usually be required. If de sired, however, the plate 0 may be made of resilient metal, and the upturned edges b and b be adapted to press elastically against the sides of the groove a and thus hold the device against any lateral movement in said groove.

The advantages of a device of this character will at once be apparent. Each rollersection is supported independently and turns independently from the other roller-sections. If a book is set edgewise on a shelf provided with this device, in removing and inserting v a book those rollers only on which the edges of the book rests turn, and these rollers being firmly supported throughout their length turn With very little friction. \Vhen the books are placed side by side on the same shelf, only those rollers on which the book rest move in removing it or inserting it into place, and that portion of the roller-support which is under the next book remains stationary.

It will be seen that the device is very simple and at the same time very strong in its construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A roller-support for book-shelves,con sisting of a frame formed from a single piece of metal with upturned sides and upwardlyprojecting standards, a series of independent rollers or roller-sections placed between the respective standards, and a common supporting-rod passing through all of said rollers and standards in said frame to form a sectional roller, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with abook-shelf having a groove or trough therein, of a frame formed with upturned sides or edges and upturned projecting standards arranged in a series between said sides, said standards and upturned edges being stamped and formed from a single piece of metal, independent rollers placed between the respective standards, and aeommon supporting-rod passing through all of said rollers and standards, whereby a support is formed for said rod at each end of each roller, substantially as specified.

3. As an article of manufacture, a sectional roller having a common supporting-rod and supporting-standards for said rod, one standard at each end of each roller, a base for said standards, and upturned sides on said base parallel with said supporting-rods, said sides and standards being formed from a single piece of sheet metal, substantially as and in the manner specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 19th day of February, A. D. 1890.

J. DARWIN EDWARDS. Witnesses:

JAMES HOYLE, PAUL A. STALEY. 

